Wanderlust mandala

Tanya says: “This mandala would make a lovely addition to any wall. Crocheted in beautiful colours and using a variety of stitches it will jazz up any space!"

Noro Silk Garden (10% wool, 45% mohair, 45% silk, 100m/50g), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Shade 5 Yarn B Shade 31 Yarn C Shade 32 Yarn D Shade 40 Yarn E Shade 1 A 4mm (US G/6) hook Stitch markers Tapestry needle A 30cm (12in) diameter embroidery hoop

MEASUREMENTS

30cm (12in) diameter

ABBREVIATIONS

2-tr cluster (yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) twice, inserting the hook in the same st each time, yrh and draw through all 3 loops on hook

3-tr cluster (yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) 3 times, inserting the hook in the same st each time, yrh and draw through all 4 loops on hook

4-tr cluster (yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) 4 times, inserting the hook in the same st each time, yrh and draw through all 5 loops on hook

5-tr cluster (yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) 5 times, inserting the hook in the same st each time, yrh and draw through all 6 loops on hook

V-st (tr, ch2, tr) in st indicated

MANDALA

With Yarn A, make magic loop.

Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), 11tr into loop, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. Fasten off. [12 sts]

Round 2 Join Yarn B in any sp between 2 tr, ch5 (counts as tr and ch2), * tr in sp before next tr, ch2; rep from * around, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. Fasten off. [12 tr, 12 ch-2 sps]

Round 3 Join Yarn C in any ch-2 sp, ch3, 4-tr cluster in same ch-2 sp, ch4, *5-tr cluster in next ch-2 sp, ch4; rep from * around, ss to top of first cluster to join.

Fasten off. [12 clusters, 12 ch- 4 sps]

Round 4 Join Yarn D in any ch- 4 sp, ch1 (does not count as st), 4dc in same ch- 4 sp, dc in top of next cluster, *4dc in next ch- 4 sp, dc in top of next cluster; repeat from * around, ss to first dc to join.

Fasten off. [60dc] Round 5 Join Yarn B in first st, ch1 (does not count as st), dc in same dc, ch2, skip next dc, *dc in next dc, ch2, skip next dc; rep from * around, ss to first dc to join.

Fasten off. [30 dc, 30 ch-2 sps] Round 6 Join Yarn E in any ch-2 sp, ch3, 2-tr cluster in same sp, ch2, *3-tr cluster in next ch-2 sp, ch2; rep from * around.

Fasten off. [30 clusters, 30 ch-2 sps] Round 7 Join Yarn C in any ch-2 sp, ch2 (counts as htr), 2htr in same ch-2 sp, *3htr in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around.

Fasten off. [90 htr] Round 8 Join Yarn A in any htr, ch1 (does not count as st), dc in same st, dc in each htr around, ss to first dc to join.

Fasten off. [90 dc] Round 9 Join Yarn B in first st, ch5 (counts as tr, ch2), tr in st at base of ch-5, skip next 2 sts, * v-st in next st, skip next 2 sts; rep from * around. Fasten off. [30 v-sts] Round 10 Join Yarn D in any ch-2 sp, ch3, (tr, ch2, 2tr) in same space, *(2tr, ch2, 2tr) in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. Fasten off. Round 11 Join Yarn E in any ch-2 sp, ch3, 4tr in same sp, *5tr in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. Fasten off. [150 tr] Round 12 Join Yarn C in any tr, ch1 (does not count as st), dc in each st and around the embroidery hoop at the same time, continuing around the hoop, ch20, ss to first dc to join.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Clockwise from top left: balls of Noro nestling together, photograph by Tanya Eberhardt; this design carefully balances all five shades of yarn; the mandala is attached to an embroidery hoop and has a loop for hanging; inside Tanya's sketchbook, photograph by Tanya Eberhardt.

The mandala !" attached to a hoop! Psst Clockwise from top left: Tanya's mandala-in-progress, photograph by Tanya Eberhardt; Round 12 is a round of double crochet stitches enclosing the embroidery hoop; this project is a great way for you to add new stitches to your repetoire – you'll be using clusters and V-stitches.